Kyle Smith of the New York Post writes a nice takedown of Michael Moore's new move "Sicko." The movie has not yet been released, so we don't yet know for sure whether, like previous Moore films, it will be premised on a lie. As Smith notes, "the central idea of 'Bowling for Columbine' -- that the killers were subconsciously driven to their actions by the presence of a weapons manufacturing plant in Littleton ---turned out to be not only conceptually insane but literally untrue." In fact, the plant did not make what Moore called "weapons of mass destruction" but rather space launch vehicles for TV satellites. Similarly, "Roger and Me" presented Moore as unable to secure an interview with the GM chief Roger Smith. But, this "was also a 90-minute lie: Moore did talk to Roger Smith, a fact revealed by Ralph Nader."
"Sicko" apparently is built around stories of people who got the run-around from insurance companies. Such stories should be enough easy to find, so perhaps Moore was able to resist his usual practice of making things up. However, as Smith's review shows, these sorts of anecdotes are beside the point when it comes to rational debate about health care, given the ease with which one can find similarly chilling anecdotes about the health case systems Moore extols -- those of Canada, France, and England. (For a great send-up of the Canadian system, watch the excellent film "Invasion of the Barbarians" by leftist director Denys Aracand).
Smith provides plenty of evidence that should make us pause before seeking to emulate the health care systems of Canada, France, and England (much less that of Cuba which also draws particular praise from Moore). That doesn't mean that our system can't be improved or even that, ultimately, we shouldn't borrow elements from the system of one or more of these countries. It just means that Moore's film, if Smith has desccribed it fairly, is irrelevant to serious debate about these matters.
Reader Comments ( Page 5 of 9)
61. When Katrina Struck and Bush sat on his ass doing nothing, Castro offered to send a team of his doctors to New Orleans to help the victims there. His offer to help was refused.
S. Merritt at 3:45PM on Jun 20th 2007
62. I think most people know that what comes out of the New York Post is what the finatical right wants them to say and not the word of the people so I say to this blind follower is you have know idea what your talking about. I knew Micheal Moore when he was on the radio in Flint Michigan, he is a man of passion and beleives he is fighting for the american people. I lived in the world of General Motors and "Roger and Me" was the truth but I am sure that Kyle Smith knows all about it driving around in non-american made car...
Randy Perry at 3:53PM on Jun 20th 2007
63. Kennedy Mokwunye, just how many illegal immigrants are sucking health care to death, Michael Moore needs to do a documentary????on that subject, but, he won't because that would actually be the truth,l not the truth he sees, but, the real truth. Donna it is not the American publics keeping firearms that made the two dingbats at Columbine kill, a firearm happens to be an inanimate object made of steel, wood or polymers. It does not have a mind and cannot operate on it's own, therefor it cannot load itself nor can it pull it's own trigger. Why don't you place the blame for Columbine where it belongs on the parents of those two he did the massacre, more than likely those parents consider school as a baby sitting service and never pay attention to nor did they ever discipline their kids. Michael Moore wouldn't know the truth if it were to hit him in the face, I would not watch anything with his name in the credits.
Danny at 4:24PM on Jun 20th 2007
64. The only Moore film I have seen is Farenheit 9/11. When you look at it now, you realize everything he reported has turned out to be true.
And as for those of you who don't think Moore should make any money, or should give what he does to children. You should make such demands of your rich Republican friends who only make laws to get themselves richer and don't give a c--p about healthcare or the American people in general - unless you own a big business.
Lynne at 3:50PM on Jun 20th 2007
65. 22. This is just childishly silly. The movie has, in fact, ALREADY had a major effect on the health care debate, for better or worse
WHERE ARE YOU GETTING YOUR INFOMATION? IN CRACKER JACKS. THE MAN IS A REBAL ROUSER, AS BAD AS AL SHARPTON AND JESSIE JACKSON. HE TAKES THE POT, STIRS IT W/ PROPAGANDA, AND GUILLABLE PEOPLE LIKE YOU BELIEVE THAT CRAP, WHEN PAST HISTORY SHOWS, THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY HAS BEEN CRAP FROM DAY ONE, WAY BEFORE BUSH. SO GET OF YOUR RIGHTOUS HIGH HORSE, AND DO SOMETHING IN LIFE THAT MATTERS, INSTEAD OF BELIEVEING A MAN LIKE CHICKEN LITTLE WHO SAYS THE SKY IS FALLING AND YOU BELIEVE IT. FOOL, IS NOT BORN, FOOLS ARE MADE, BY THEIR OWN HAND.
BRIDGE 2 SELL at 3:54PM on Jun 20th 2007
66. At the heart of the Health Care fiasco is the fact that the insurance companies are dedicated to "saving money" for their shareholders, and consequently "denial of patient care" is where they accomplish this. If they cheat you out of your benefits and you take them to court, you are not allowed to recover your costs, nor are you allowed to seek financial damages....by law. The insurance lobbyists made this deal with Congress, and so the health insurers are beyond the law. You will not be allowed to change this system because because Wall Street depends it. Clearly a new system should use the money primarily for health care. The present health insurers are inappropriate for the task. But lets reform it rather than give it to the government who will certainly kill it altogether.
Brian at 4:11PM on Jun 20th 2007
67. What's this crap about our health care system being broke? Frankly I can't believe how cheap it is. I'm 42 and a heavy smoker. I only pay $264 a month for major medical with a small deductable of $500 and a co-pay of $15 for doctor visits and $10 for medication. Since I own my own business I had to shop around and found one hell of a deal!
Capitalist Infidel at 4:11PM on Jun 20th 2007
68. HEALTH CARE IN OUR COUNTRY IS ONLY GOOD IF YOU HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR INSURANCE OR ARE A FUCKING ILLEGAL ALIEN WHO GETS EVERYTHING FOR FREE INSTEAD OF GETTING THEIR WORTHLESS ASSES DEPORTED. OUR ONCE GREAT COUNTRY TURNED INTO PURE SHIT ALL FOR THE GOD DAMNED DOLLAR
DAN PAULITSKA at 4:31PM on Jun 20th 2007
69. #3 What the hell does a communist countrie have to do when comparing quality of care? Debate the merits not moronic right wing bloviating, bushisms with no content.
#4 How hard was that to figure out? Mirengoff your as stupid as the idiots that denied the content of Moores fact based expose on how US created and maintains control of the House of Saud. Even binBush is a fact that the morons denied.
#5. Einstein, hes done alot more than you. Exposing the fact that for the trillions we have invested in our health care system, its not the best. It works best for the rich. Which is the biggest problem.
Show me something you wrote or did to change the system. Thought so.
#6 Replace this idiot now.
#7 Your the fact checker
#10 A mind is a terible thing to waste,shrubbot. Your getting creamed next election cycle because there is nothing in your airhead.
#12 Your in charge of long term strategy
james roop at 4:34PM on Jun 20th 2007
70. EVEN THE REPUBLICANS AGREE WITH MICHAEL MOORE ON THIS ONE SO IT SAYS VOLUMES ABOUT YOU ASSHOLES WHO SAY HE IS JUST DOING IT FOR THE PUBLICITY AND THE MONEY.
WHY THE HELL ARE WE THE ONLY INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WITHOUT ANY UNIFORM HEALTHCARE FOR THEIR OWN CITIZENS. IT IS A SHAM
DAN PAULITSKA at 4:39PM on Jun 20th 2007
71. so, this is some guy writing a piece about an article he didn't write? he hasn't even seen the movie? why did we have to read this? a review of a review? please.
o'maguire at 8:17PM on Jun 20th 2007
72. >>>Donna it is not the American publics keeping firearms that made the two dingbats at Columbine kill, a firearm happens to be an inanimate object made of steel, wood or polymers. It does not have a mind and cannot operate on it's own, therefor it cannot load itself nor can it pull it's own trigger>>>
Dear Challenged Reader,
I didn't say that people owning firearms cause anything. This country has a culture (that means how we deal with things on a regular basis) that glorifies violence and guns. That DOES have an effect on our kids, whether they have good parents or not.
Donna at 5:07PM on Jun 20th 2007
73. Michael Moore wants to take the private profit out of health care. Why should an entire industry make billions of profits so that we can have good health? Would we let a corporation run our fire departments and let them run by the same standards as health care, i.e., profits take priority over which fires to fight? Our system is idiotic and the insurance companies are committing theft of our money AND our health. Moore points that out and he's vilified? That IS sicko!!
Donna at 5:07PM on Jun 20th 2007
74. Folks. I am a healthcare provider, a dentist. I deal with an incredibly broad spectrum of people in my area, and I do not think it differs from many places in this great country of ours. Health care is a problem, but there are many problems making up this big problem. Contrary to what many think it is not the providers making the money. Most of my physician friends are working more hours and making significantly less money than 10 years ago. Technology is not cheap, especially in this country. The stuff that provides the miracles is expensive. Insurance companies are not losing money, they are generally making money and the CEO and CFO's are grossly overpaid. Finally, a tremendously large percentage of health problems in our country are caused by personal neglect and ignorance. We are behaving in ways that are forcing us to use health care services that better choices and life styles would curtail. Having said that the truly needy ought to receive proper care. In my profession there are ways to do that but politicians don't want to address it. In medicine it comes down to the fact that those of us who can pay for insurance and are healthy right now, will pay for those who are not healthy. The health care of the elderly is another issue altogether. The question there being "When do we say enough is enough and allow the natural course of life take its path?"
Gregory G. Oman at 10:23AM on Jun 21st 2007
75. Since when is the New York post a relevant news source (ditto for Kyle) and since when is AOL posting such garbage. What is relevant is that someone is doing something about it. Someone is telling the story of people that are living under conditions that would be deplorable in most civilized countries and that have a healthcare system that is not irrelevant such as ours.
quijanomario at 5:26PM on Jun 20th 2007